Means of clearing slots of wire-rope railways



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I. EOWEES.

MEANS 0E CLEARING SLOTS 0E WIEE EQPE EAILWAYS. i No. 255,191. PatentedMai. 21.11882.

FISI.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN POWERS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

MEANS OF CLEARING SLOTS OF WIRE-ROP RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,191, dated March21, 1882.

Application filed August 19, 188,1. (No modelli To all whom t mayconcern Be it known that I, JOHN POWERS, a citizen of the United States,and residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and Stateof California, have invented a certain new and useful Means otl RemovingObstructions in the Slots or Grooves of Cable-Railways, ot' which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved means of removingobstructions in the slots or grooves of cable-railways-sueh as snow andice-so that the vertical bar which carries the ropeor cable griper maypass along the groove or slot without obstruction. I accomplishthisobject by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a plan view, showing my device in position and theslot of the cable-tunnel. The dotted lines represent the dummy-frame.Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation ot' my device and a portion of thecable-tunnel.

Similar letters of reference are used to designate like parts throughoutthe several views.

A represents the dummy, which carries the usual rope-griper for takingup and holding the rope or cable which passes along the tunnel or tube,and, by which the cars are propelled.

To the frame-Work of the forward end of the dummy or car I connect asupplemental axle, B, having its bearings in the side of the main frameand cross-bar A', which latter bar is supported by the front end har anda crossbar or support,`C, which extends across the dummy-frame, so thata sufcient support to the axleBis had. This axle, however, may extendacross the entire frame and have itsbearings orjournals in the sidesthereof.

To the end of the axle B, I connect a circular toothed wheel, D, so thatthe teeth thereof will rotate in thesaid slot or groove E when power isconnected to the dummy and cause the teeth to engage the ice or snowalong the slot. The wheel is operated hya spur-gearin g, F F', upon theshaft or axle B and main or driving axle B', which causes the saw tooperate in a reverse manner to that of the tread of the driving-wheelsof the carthat is to say, the points of the teeth are upward and engagethe ice or snow along the slot, striking it from below and throwingitupward and forward, and break it in a regular and progressive manner,throwing it outwardly at either or both sides otlthe slot and keepingthe slot cleared from all obstructions, so that the vertical griper-bar-may at all times be made to operate in the slot or groove and not bedelayed in winter-storms of snow, sleet, and ice.

1n order to carry o' and keep the broken particles of ice and snow fromenteringthe slot after the toothed cutter has performed its oce,I employa plow or inclined dash-board, G, which follows in close order thecutter or ice-breaking wheel.

Thisplow may also be made to serve the purpose of a track-clearer insnow-storms.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-

l. In combination with a car or dummy of`a cable or Wire-rope railway,the toothed or hladed wheel operating in the slot or groove in saidrailway upon a spindle, shaft, or mandrel, and connected in any suitablemanner with the drivingor propelling gear of said dummy or car, arrangedand operating substantially in the manner as herein .set forth andspecified.

2. The combination and arrangement of a spindle or shaft having atoothed wheel or cutting and breaking edge upon its inner end, adaptedto rotate or move in the slot of a cable-railway, with the driving-axleof a car or dummy, to which it is geared, and operatingr in a reversemanner from that of the tread of \the wheels of said dummy or car, forthe purpose substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 9av have hereunto set my handand seal this 3d day ot' August, 1881.

` JOHN POWERS. [L s] Witnesses:

C. W. M. SMiTH, OnAs. E. KELLY.

